Dome structure and method of fabrication and erection



A. A. FINK DOME STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION Dec. 24, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1965 l/VVE/VTOI? ALBERT A. Fl/VK BY H15 ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1968 A. A. FINK 3,417,520

DOME STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION Filed March 11, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g Pl 2 Dog ' INVE/VTUR ALBERT A; F/IVK Dec. 24, 1968 A. A. FINK 3,417,520

DOME STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION Filed March 11, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 'l/VVE/V ALBERT 4. Fl/VK H/S ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,417,520 DOME STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION Albert A. Fink, Walnut Creek, Calif., assignor to General Conveyor Inc. of Northern California, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 438,957 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-80) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dome shape structure formed from a plurality of prefabricated arcuate rib assemblies having their lower ends aifixed to bases with moment free connections and their upper ends secured to a lantern ring. The disclosure includes a method of constructing and erecting a dome shape structure including anchoring the rib assemblies in position and relaxing the anchoring connections to relieve moment stresses between the rib assemblies and the bases they are secured to.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to building structures and more particularly to dome type structures of large size.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved dome type structure;

(2) To provide novel and improved methods in the assembling of a dome type structure, which are of particular importance in the erection of dome type structures of large size;

(3) To provide a novel and improved dome type structure capable of being assembled without scaffolding or other types of fabricated supports;

(4) To provide a novel and improved dome type structure capable of supporting heavy loads without internal supports;

(5) To provide a novel and improved dome type structure capable of being constructed to sizes covering large areas, of the order of the area of a football field, without the aid of scaffolding or other interior supporting structures, and being self-supporting when completed;

(6) To provide a novel and improved rib assembly for use in the construction of a dome type structure;

(7) To provide a novel and improved rib assembly for use in the construction and erection of a dome type structure, and one exhibiting strong resistance to torsional stresses;

(8) To provide a novel and improved method of assembling an arcuate rib assembly for use in the construction of a dome type structure.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a three-dimensional view of a dome type structure in partial state of completion;

FIGURE 2 is a view of a novel and improved pre- 3,4 1 7,5 20- Patented Dec. 24, 1968 fabricated rib assembly employed in the fabrication of such dome type structure;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken in the plane 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental plan view of a lantern ring assembly for a dome type structure;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken in the plane 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are comparative views of the base details of a rib assembly anchor means, illustrating the procedure involved in releasing base moments during the installation of a rib assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is primarily concerned with the framework structure of a dome type building, and a novel prefabricated rib assembly which makes this possible.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the framework 1 involves a plurality of arcuate rib assemblies 3 arranged with their lower ends carried on base columns 5 which are located along the base contour of the structure. At their upper ends, the arcuate rib assemblies are connected together, preferably by connecting each to a lantern ring 7, while the lower ends of the rib assemblies are connected together by members 9 extending from one rib assembly to the next, to form a tension ring 11.

At spaced points along the rib assemblies, corresponding members 13 connect the rib assemblies to form similar rings, while at spaced points between such rings, are similar elements of lighter weight, constituting purlins 15 for supporting the outer skin of the finished structure.

Of considerable importance to the present invention is the fact that each of the prefabricated rib assemblies is of a type adapted to resist torsional stressing, while at the same time being capable of supporting heavy loads in the finished structure.

In fabricating such rib assembly, and to effect the same in a most economical manner, I utilize a pair of flexible rib members 21 of such flexibility, that each, when raised, at its midpoint, would inherently bend to an arc substantially corresponding to that of the dome type shape structure desired.

Rolled structural channel beams of the desired length, are available which have such flexible characteristics, and as the first step in fabricating a rib assembly, a pair of these are flexed to such are, with little effort, and in substantially parallel or uniformly spaced relationship to each other in a jig, and while so flexed, they are stabilized by connecting the same to each other along corresponding edges, to form a rigid box section rib assembly, which Will conform to the arc of the contemplated dome type structure desired. Such box section rib assembly is capable of exhibiting strong resistance to torsional or twisting stresses and this is important to the present invention.

For connecting such rib members to form the box section rib assembly, I prefer to lace the rib members together along each side by L-section elements 25, such as conventionally employed in bridge construction and other structures, such structural elements being preferably Welded into place. And at spaced points, connecting elements 27 normal to the rib members may be added, the

main object being to secure a rigid box section rib assembly.

At its lower end, each rib assembly is suitably fabricated for attachment to its associated supporting column, while at its upper end, it is provided with means for firm and rugged attachment to the lantern ring.

Such ring, in the embodiment illustrated, is of poly onal form having sides made up of straight sections 31 of pipe.

Certain of the rib assemblies will connect to the corners of the lantern ring, while others will connect to intermediate points of the sides, but in either event, the connecting means may comprise a generally triangular shaped plate 33 encircling the lantern ring at its point of attachment, and provided at its base with an attaching flange 35 for bolting attachment to the upper end of the rib assembly.

The plate 33 is braced by laterally extending stiffeners 37 extending from the bolting flange 35 to a point of engagement with the lantern ring along their forward edges. Welding may be relied on to permanently secure the plates 33 and stitfeners 37 to the lantern ring, along the edges of contact with such ring.

The rib assembly, prefabricated in the manner described, and because of its ability to sustain heavy loads in the finished structure, and more particularly, because of its inherent ability to resist torsional strains and twisting stresses, permits of a novel method in the erection of dome type structures, a method which does away with all internal temporary structures such as scaffolding, towers, and the like, which previously have been necessarily employed in erecting large structures of this type, and particularly to the sizes contemplated by the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, my method makes use of portable cranes operating outside of the contemplated structure. While the lantern ring with its rib assembly connecting means, is hoisted by one crane to the position it will occupy in the contemplated structure, another crane will raise one of the rib assemblies to the position it will occupy, with its lower end resting on its supporting column to which it will be anchored and its upper end will then be bolted to its associated connecting means.

Such hoisting of the rib assembly, particularly, when of considerable length, is permitted only by reason of the great resistance to torsional or twisting stresses exhibited by such rib assembly, plus rigidity against simple bendmg.

While the lantern ring is still maintained in its suspended position from its supporting crane, additional rib assemblies are installed, until a simple basic stable framework is realized, following which, the particular crane employed in supporting the lantern ring, may then be removed for service at some other location.

A minimum of three rib assemblies is required to accomplish a basic stable framework, and this can be realized either by first erecting a pair of rib assemblies to form an arch, and then supporting such arch by an intermediate rib assembly; or by erecting three rib assemblies at angles of approximately 120 degrees apart.

Once such basic stable framework has been erected, the remaining rib assemblies may then be installed in the manner of the previous ones, as by the use of cranes, and when the installation of the rib assemblies has thus been completed, the construction may thereafter be carried on along conventional lines.

To provide for anchoring the rib assemblies, each base column is provided with cast in corner anchor bolts 47 to match holes in an anchor plate 49 at the foot of each rib assembly. With the base plate clamped between nuts 51 and 53 on each anchor bolt and the rib assembly connected to the lantern ring, a turning moment can conceivably have been developed in the rib assembly with resulting moment stresses in the structure.

To relieve such stresses, the anchoring means is relaxed by providing a plurality of shims 57 between the anchor plate and the base column, and then backing off the nuts below and above the anchor plate, to permit the shims to take the load and enable the rib assembly to fulcrum on the shims and relieve itself of such moment stresses. Following such self-adjustment, the nuts are tightened against the anchor plate following which the space between the anchor plate and base column is then filled with grout, all of which serves to stabilize the an choring connection between the rib assembly and the base column.

As previously indicated, the present invention is of particular importance in the construction of dome type structures of the immense size contemplated by the present invention, and which could rise to heights exceeding a hundred feet. In the construction of such immense buildings, the rib assemblies are apt to be of a required length exceeding that capable of being handled by available shipping or other transportation facilities, and accordingly, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to sectionalize such rib assemblies to the point of providing maximum transportable sections.

In the construction of dome type structures which are not circular but are of substantial length as compared to width, each end section may be deemed a half of a circular structure, from which it becomes apparent that the features of the present invention would be applicable.

From the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Steps in the method of constructing and erecting a dome shape structure comprising,

prefabricating a plurality of arcuate shaped rib assemblies,

supporting a lantern ring by crane at the elevational position to be occupied in the completed structure,

elevating sufiicient of said arcuate rib assemblies which, when arranged in the positions they will occupy in the contemplated structure, may be united at their free ends to said lantern ring to form a basic stable framework,

anchoring each said rib assembly to a base column with an anchoring connection,

connecting said free ends to said lantern ring to form such basic stable framework,

relaxing each said rib assembly at its anchoring connection to its base column to permit each said rib assembly to relieve itself of moment stresses developed during installation thereof, and

then stabilizing such anchoring connection.

2. A dome shape structure comprising a plurality of bases disposed along the base contour of said structure,

a plurality of prefabricated arcuate box section rib assemblies formed to resist torsional stresses and for for free standing without lateral support during construction of the dome and capable of supporting heavy loads in the finished structure without purlins or beams interconnecting the intrados of said ribs, each of said rib assemblies being arranged with their lower ends afiixed to said bases without causing moment stresses in said bases,

said prefabricated arcuate rib assemblies being arranged 'with their lower ends affixed to said bases by an anchoring connection with shims disposed between said rib assemblies and said base columns for permitting relaxation of stresses between the bases and the rib assemblies,

a lantern ring,

and means connecting said arcuate rib assemblies at their upper ends to said lantern ring.

3. Steps in the method of construction and erecting a dome shape structure comprising prefabricating a plurality of rib assemblies,

individually elevating each of said rib assemblies to the position each is to occupy in the completed structure,

anchoring each of said rib assemblies to a base column by an anchoring connection with shims disposed bem tween said rib assemblies and said base columns.

connecting the free end of each of said rib assemblies to overhead structure,

interconnecting said rib assemblies,

relaxing the anchoring connections of each of said rib assemblies to relieve moment stresses developed during erection and interconnection of said rib assemblies, andstabilizing said anchoring connections.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1960 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Construction Methods, May 1942. Popular Mechanics, August 1956.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.1R. 

